Adjustable chair.



1. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIZ, 1915.

1 ,271,636. Patented July 9, 1918..

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES: v INVENTOR- A ITORHE Y3 J. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I2. 1915.

1 ,271,636. Patented July 9, 1918.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: l/VI/E/VTOR Jerrold I? Wa/fan AWM Y 5 M fi /1% J. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIRe APPLICATION FILED Jun/12. 19x5.

Patented July 9, 1918.

fir 4/ -mmmm lA/VE/VTOR derra/dfi' Wa/fon $45 By ATTORNEYS "of theMorris chair type,

JERROLD IF. WALTON, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE GI-IAIR.

Z7 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JERROLD F. WALTON, a citizen ef the United States,residing at Sturgis, county of St. Joseph, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Chairs, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable chairs.

My improvements are especially designed by me for embodiment inadjustable chairs although readily adapted for usein Other types ofchairs.

The main objects of this invention are:

,First,to provide. an improved adjustable chair having an adjustableback and means for retaining it in any adjusted position and one inwhichthe movement of the back to whether occupied or unoccupied, is-steadyand gradual. Second, to provide an improved adjustable 'chair embodyingthese advantages which is :simple and economical in structure and veryand from its vertical position,

easy to operate and at the same time one which is strong and durble andnot likely tofget out of repair;

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification, in which: Figure I is a detail side view of a structureembodying the features of my invention, one side of the chair framebeing removed to better show the arrangement of the parts, theadjustable back and s'eatbeing shown'in one position by full lines andin another by'dotted lines. 45 1 Fig. II is an inverted view.

Fig.- III isa detail vertical section on a 1ine corresponding to thebroken line 3+3 of Fig. II. j j

F-Fig. IV isa'n enlarged detallhorlzontal section on alineicorresponding to line 4. -4:

0f Fig.:I,-showing details of the adjusting means. T 1 I a Fig. V is anenlarged detail verticaltransversei sectionzon a line correspondingtolmeSpecification of Letters Patent.

. line corresponding to clearly shown in 0 .the seat is supported fortilting ad ustment Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed. July 12, 1915. Serial No. 39,365.

5-5 of Figs. I, II, III and IV, showing further details of the adjustingmeans.

Fig. VI is an'enlarged detail vertical section showing the seatactuating spring. Fig. VII is a detail perspective View of the rack ofthe back adjusting mechanism.

Fig. VIII is a detail vertical section through the hinge or pivot forthe back on a line 8-8 of Fig. II. Fig. IX is a detail side elevation ofa modified structure, one side of the chair being removed, theadjustable back and seat being shown in one position by full lines 1 andin another by dotted lines.

Fig. X is a detail inverted view of the structure appearing in Fig. IX.

In the drawing similar reference numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and taken looking in the direction of thelittle arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the framework of the chair comprises the usualrear and front posts 1 and 2 respectively, and the rails 4: connecting,the front post to the rear post and the front and rear cross bars 5 and6 respectively.

In the modified structure shown in Figs.

the sectional views are,

the arms 3, i

IX and X the frame is alsopreferably pro-.

vided with a horizontally disposed bottom piece 7 on which the lockingmechanism is mounted.

The seat, designated generally by the numeral 8, consists, in theembodiments illustrated, of a rectangular frame made up of side rails orbars 9 and front bar 10 and a rear bar 11. 4

The coiled cushion springs 12 are carried by spring supports 13. Thesprings are covered with a suitable upholstery 14. I

The side bars 9 are notched at 15 to engage the front bar 5 of theframe. The front bar 10 of the seat rests on the front bar 5 to permitFig. 'III. The rear end of as will appear as the description proceeds.

The back, designated generally by the numeral 16, is formed ofsuitable-side bars:

17 connected by cross bars 18 and provided with suitable springs 19 andupholstery 20. At the lower end of the back I mount a pair of forwardlyand downwardly projecting arms-21 having rollers 22 on which the rearthe tilting of the seat, as

' the back.

The hinge pintles 26 project from the".

*Of the seat at 4a to urge the seat normally way 33 extending end of theseat rests. The rollers are carried by the inwardly projectingjournals23 on the arms. The seat is providedwith flat bearing strips orways 2% secured on the under sides of its side rails so'th'at therollers. travel thereon as the back is tilted and the seat raised andlowered owing to the arms projecting below the hinge pivots of plates orarms 21 to coact with the hinge members27 secured on the inner sidesof-the posts-1.' The hinge members are slotted at 28 to receive theheaded pintles.

Theback is provided with a-downwardly projecting ro'd like arm 29 whichispreferably secured thereto by arranging in bores in the crosspiecesthereof. The'lower end of the arm projects below the seat andisconnected by the link 30 to" the ratchet bar 31 having forwardlyfacingteeth- 32 thereon. This bar 31 is arranged ina channel-shaped from thefront and rear crosspieces 5*and 6 of the frame of the chair. Theratchet bar has a sliding" fit in this way (see'Fi'g. IV). The lockingbar or pawl 34 is arranged through a slot in on'esideof the way toengage'the ratchet teeth. The pawl '34 is pivoted 'at-36 to the lever 37which is pivotally mounted at-38 on the cross bar 89, the inner endofwhich is secured to the way 33 andthe outer end to the side of thech'air frame.

A'spring 40 holds the pawl 34 yieldingly in engagement-with the ratchetbar, one end of the spring being secured to the bar 39 and the other tothe lever 37.

A push rod 41 is provided for releasing the pawl. A coiled spring 42 is'secured to an ear43 on the way 38 and to the rear end downward andforward.

When the chair 1s be adjusted rearwardly by releasing the lookingmeansby pressing down on the button of the push rod 11 and pressing onthe i back, the back moving with the body of the occupant.

Should the occupant of the chair move his bodyforward the backautomatically follows, the ratchet bar sliding under the pawl. This isofverygreat' advantage as the back is always left in its forward'position when -theoccupantleavesthe chair and, as stated,

automatically follows the body 'tO a11y posi- 7 'tion'withinits' scopeof, adjustment when the occupant moves forward,-the just intentbeing-automatic except for the disengaging of the pawl.

In thejmodified structure shown in Figs. is supported in its ad alo'cll'ring *mechanism, in the patent to arm on the back of e The clutchball mechanism, deslgnatedgenmechanism occupied the back may 7 In thatstructure a clutch mechanism, designated generally by the numeral 15, ismounted onthe horizontal'frame piece 7 below the seat. This clutchmechanism comprises a s'lide46 having aseries of clutch ball holes 17therein. This slide is connected to the the chair by the link 30.

erally by the numeral 48, coacts'with the slide" to lock the back in anyadjusted position against either forward or rearward movement. Thisclutch 1 mechanism is controlled by the'p'ush rod 41, the same as the ofthe structure first described. In this structure the back doesnot-fa'utomatically follow the b'ody of the occi'ipant' to its forwardposition u'nles's'the lock is released, in which eyentu't qnoves forwardthe same asth'at ofthe preferred con'struction.

common practice to provide a spring connected directly to the backfor'moving" it forward to its upright position. *In: such an: arrangementwhen the look i is 1''e'leased In chairs 'of this type it has beenquite" 'i 7 the ba'ck swings to its forwardpositionwith 5 a jerk-whichis-a'strain on the mechanism and also usi'ially-startles the occupant.improvements effectively overcome this objection. In the preferredconstruction 'the back moves forward with the modified constructionwhen-thechair is unoccupied and the locking meansTeleased the back alsomoves forward gradually. =If, however, the occupant swings to fanuprightthe occupant. 'In I position without releasing the back and the back isreleased while the oc pant ison the seat the back will move quicklytoitsupright position. For that-reason the structure shown in Figs'LVIII isofsubstantial advantage over that shown in Figs. IX 5? and X. v v

In the modification shown "ini'Figsu IX and 'X- the back is providedwith-forwardly projecting arms 4E9' engagi-ng pins; 50 projectinglaterally from 'the "seat. have slots 51 therein to receive th'epins.The pintle mem'be1-s,52 are,in thisgstruoture, mounted onseparate=platesf53l The stop members 15 on the "seat are arranged sothat a slight SlidlllgihOtlOIL'Qf the} seat is possible although veryslight sliding move ment is required. I

I have illustrated and described 1 my improvements in detail -the}forn1in whi'chl have embodied the same: tempted to illustrate for describevarious modifications which might desirable in embodying my improvementsin: other forms ofchairs, as I believe the-dis- The arms I have not atbenecessary 11 or closure made'willenable those skilled'in the "art towhich my invention relates 'to embody .9 adapt e same as conditionsinay"-I'equire. e. 7.

.1 I; desire,- however, to :be u nderstood as arms, said seat claimingmy improvements specifically in the form illustrated as well as broadlywithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new-and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable backpivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front endon said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, downwardly and forwardlyprojecting arms at the lower end of said back, rollers on the lower endsof said arms, said seat being provided with ways resting on said rollerswhereby the.

rear end of the seat is raised and lowered with the adjustment of theback, a spring connected to said frame and to said seat urging the rearend of the seat downwardly, a downwardly on said back, a channeled slideway d1sposed below said seat, a rack having forwardly facing teetharranged in said slide way, a link connecting said rack to saidsupporting arm on said back, a pawl arranged through one side of saidchanneled slide way to coact with said rack teeth, a spring for holdingsaid pawl yieldingly in engagement with said teeth, and means forretracting said pawl.

2. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable backpivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front endon said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, downwardly and forwardlyprojecting arms at the lower end of said back, rollers on the lower endsof said arms, said seat being provided with ways resting on said rollerswhereby the rear end of the seat is raised and lowered with theadjustment of the back, a downwardly projecting supporting arm on saidback, a channeled slide way disposed below said seat, a rack havingforwardly facing teeth arranged in said slide wa a link connecting saidrack to said supporting arm on said back, a pawl arranged through oneside of said channeled slide way to coact with said rack teeth, a springfor holding said pawl yieldingly in engagement with said teeth, andmeans for retracting said pawl.

3. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable backpivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mount- L ed at its frontend on said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, downwardly andforwardly projecting arms at the lower'end of said back, rollers on thelower ends of said being provided with fiat ways resting on said rollerswhereby the rear end of the seat is raised and lowered with theadjustment of the back, a spring connected to said frame and to saidseat urging the rear end of the seat downwardly, a down wardlyprojecting supporting arm on said pro ecting supporting arm back, aslidable rack having forwardly facing teeth, a link connecting said rackto said supporting arm on said back, a pawl coacting with said rack, aspring for said pawl, and means for retracting said pawl.

41:. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustableback pivotally mounted on said chair frame, aseat mounted at its frontend on said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, downwardly andforwardly projecting arms at the lower end of said back, rollers on thelower ends of said arms, said seat being provided with flat ways restingon said rollers whereby the rear end of the seat is raised and loweredwith the adjustment of the back, a downwardly projecting supporting armon said back, a slidable rack having forwardly facing teeth, a linkconnecting said rack to said supporting arm on said back,'a pawlcoacting with said rack, a spring for said pawl, and means forretracting said pawl.

5. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable backpivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front endon said frame for tilting adj ustment thereon, an arm on said backsupporting the rear endof said seat, a spring connected to said frameand to said seat urging the rear end of the seat downwardly, adownwardly projecting supporting arm on said back, a channeled slide waydisposed below said seat, a rack having forwardly facing teeth arra gedin said slide way, a link connecting said rack to said supporting arm onsaid back, a pawl arranged through one side of said channeled slide wayto coact with said rack teeth, a spring for holding said pawl yieldinglyin engagement with said teeth, and means for retracting said pawl.

6. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable backpivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front endon said justment thereon, an arm on said back supporting the rear end ofsaid seat, a spring. connected to said frame and to said seat urging therear end of the seat downwardly, a downwardly projecting supporting armon said back, a slidable rack having forwardly facing teeth, a linkconnecting said rack to said supporting arm on said back, a pawlcoacting with said rack, a spring for said pawl,and means for retractingsaid pawl.

'7. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustableback pivotally mounted on said chair frame, mounted at its front end onsaid frame for tilting adjustment thereon, an arm on said backsupporting the rear end of said seat, a spring connected to said frameand to said seat urging the rear end of the seat downwardly andforwardly, and a ratchet means for supporting said back.

frame for tilting ada seat loosely projecting back supporting 8. In achair, the combination with a chair frame of an adjustable backpivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front endon said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, arms supporting the rearend of said seat projecting forwardly at the lower end of said back, aspring connected to said frame and to said seat urging the rear end ofthe seat downwardly, a downwardly arm on said back, and a locking meansmounted on said frame and connected to said back support- In witnesswhereof, 'I have hereunto set 15 my hand and seal in the presence of twowitnesses.

JERROLD F. WALTON. [1 8.]

Witnesses:

, THOS. J. COLLINS, H. A. KR FT,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of iatents,

Washington, C.

